OOC: If I am not allowed to be in two topics at once please; just send me a message and I will delete this ASAP. This is open to anyone who wishes have some fun and train also I really would like for my character to makes some friends among other soul reapers. Never hurts to have an ally to help in a fight…

James deciding to take a break from the academy decides to go and explore the rukongai for a place he can relax in private. “I need a break, the academy is great and all but, it leaves me with no time to relax.” Looking around James walked around the market hearing the people yelling at each other. Even dressed in his academy robe the people of the rukongai still gave him a wide birth as he walked, he hated feeling superior to these people when not so long ago he had been one of them. “I wish I owned some street clothes other than this robe.”

“Give it I found it its mine…No its mine I found it fair and square.” James heard childish rants coming from the ally to his right. “What’s going on? I wonder if I may be able to help.” James thought as he turned down the alley. What he saw really struck a chord with him bringing pity to his eyes; two small children were fighting over a rather small melon. The boy and who James assumed to be sister were too busy fighting to notice his appearance. “Give it its mine. “Said the boy to which the girl retorted “No its not I found, and you always steal my finds.”

“Maybe I can offer a solution you both would be happy with.” James said no longer able to stand the sight of the kids fighting, he drew one of his knives and grabbed the melon from the grimy hands of the two children. “Now why do you fight when you are brother and sister…” he looked at the boy “…you should care for a protect her and you…” he looked at the girl and smiled “…should not give your brother such a hard time.”

He tossed the melon in the air slicing it with one flowing movement and sheathed his knife catching both halves of the melon “Here you go…” he said handing the halves to the children “…you know I used to have a big family. Those words of wisdom I gave you were the same words my mother told me when my father left her looking after four children; I was the oldest that was why I joined the army when I was alive, and why I want to become a shinigami now.” He stayed there for an hour telling the children his story; afterwards he left the children off looking for his place to relax.

“Jeeze, this place is so big there has to be a place that no one goes.” James suddenly became aware that he was no longer in a crowd when it was quiet enough that he could hear his own footsteps crunching on the gravel path “Where am I?” he said looking around he could see the city far behind him. “Well this might just be the place I’ve been looking for…”

Ryouta was standing ten feet from the Shinigami he knew as James Reikoku. The Onmitsukido was extremely busy right now, and it had fallen to him to obtain information about the new Shinigami that would only be available in 2nd Squad records. Ryouta had been following him around while wearing a cloak with the hood up, concealing his Shinigami robes and face. The tip of his metal toothpick protruded from the hood, but other than that, there were no other distinguishing features about him.

So far, Ryouta had seen him dissolve a dispute between two children and tell them a story about himself. This had been fairly informative, and he made a mental note of it to put in the records later.

James's wanderings took him to an isolated place, far from the city. It was technically still a part of Rukongai, but almost no one except the occasional unsavory characters came here. What does he expect t' find here? Ryouta thought. And then, We're the only ones here...I bet he's noticed me. Well, I have all the information on him I need- let's see if he notices my uncommon reiatsu level. At least, for someone wandering around Rukongai.

OOC : I am planning on making the two brothers (See my character history) come in along with some friends looking for pay back, this may turn into some spirit or speed training I’m still not sure though. If you want someone else to fight just bring them in and I’ll help ya out…

Closing his eyes James became of an unusually high spiritual pressure close by, very close. “You know if you are following someone it usually means you’re looking for an easy kill or your shy, but judging from your spiritual pressure, I guessing you’re not shy.” James talked to the air, while looking for his follower.

He spotted him standing in the open behind him; he couldn’t make much out from his appearance other than the metal toothpick that protruded from under the hood of his cloak. A cold wind started to blow from the south and James placed his arms in his sleeves grasping his knives “Better safe than sorry.” He thought as he bowed low introducing himself to his mysterious guest “Hello friend, I’m James, as you can probably tell from my robes I am a student at the soul academy.” James said half-heartedly he hated making introductions first.

The wind shifted blowing his hair out of his eyes “Great now on top of having a stalker, now he probably thinks I a demon as well. Might as well put all my chips on the table maybe I can scare him.” James drew his knives from the sheaths hidden in his sleeves, doing his best to look intimidating. He put a practiced, feral grin on his face and snarls “If I were you I would leave why I still had legs.” James didn’t want to harm anyone but, if this man was looking for a fight he’d get his wish.

Feisty and aggressive, thought Ryouta. Decisive. Probably a good 11th Squad fit. I'll let Kaiyo know about this one.

Ryouta threw back his hood to reveal a face that could not have possibly been less intimidating. He was smiling, his eyes were closed merrily, and even his reiatsu seemed to become more gentle, like a soft summer breeze. "I'm Ayame Ryouta. 2nd Squad Vice-Captain. Been gatherin' information for our files on ya for a bit now. Decided to see what ya were doin' in a place like this."

“Second squad, the stealth force right? What could be so enticing about me that they would send a vice-captain to find out or is it that you are just bored?” James smiled sheathing his knives as he no longer saw his stalker a threat. “Well anyway you probably already know me but, I was raised to always introduced myself at a first meeting,” James’ voice changed to a mock polite tone “Hello I’m James, pleased to meet you Ayame.” He preferred to greet people informally, though he knew most high ranking officers hated the fact.

“As to what I’m doing out here, I simply came here to escape the noise of the academy and wanted to be alone.” James closed his eyes and lifted his face to the sun. “Something isn’t right…I just can’t place it.” James eyes snapped open wide with fear “Great, we have more company, Ayame was it? If I were you I’d prepare for a fight. I just wish we were allowed to kill execute the guilty; I’ve met this group before they’re scum.

Entering on cue the two brothers entered followed by 8 other each carrying a knife or club, the brothers had somehow gotten their hands on swords. “Didn’t expect to see you two again so soon,” James said his voice like ice as he placed his hands in his sleeves. “And what are you too afraid to face me alone? You men are nothing more than criminals who did you kill to get those swords? It doesn’t matter you will not beat me.”

Hoping to scare the others off he drew one of his knives yet again, throwing it he buried it hilt deep in the man’s chest. It all happened so fast that James felt a pang of guilt “He never had a chance.” The man gasped his eyes growing dim as he fell backwards the knife standing in his chest like a memorial. “That was a sample if you run now I won’t kill you; you have my word.”

The two brothers grinned “We owe you a beating shinigami, as for your little friend there he can wait his turn.” One charged him sword raised, James grinned “I’m going to have some fun with this first.” He blocked the swing with his other knife and went to cut him only to realize he had thrown his other. Pissed with himself for being stupid enough to throw a weapon, he looked over to Ayame “I really hate to ask this but, it’s really embarrassing actually, could you hand me my knife?”

Ryouta was very pleased that James was an informal Shinigami- he much preferred it when people did not judge him based on his title and rank. His facial expression did not change at the arrival of the criminals, as James had described them. Ryouta had been somewhat surprised when James had acted so quickly. Still, Ryouta did not intervene. Definitely 11th Squad material, he thought.

"Hado no Ni: Reel," Ryouta said, still smiling, eyes still closed. The spell took the knife from the dead man's chest with a disgusting squelching noise and flew, handle-first to Ryouta's outstretched right hand, where he caught it deftly. He hefted it. "Good balance...a fine weapon," he commented. And then he turned to face the criminals. "Go ahead and attack me," he taunted them. "It won't matter that my eyes are shut. The result will be the same when I'm fightin' weaklings like yaselves." Three of them rushed at him in response to his taunt.

"Hotheads," Ryouta said happily. "Hado no Ichi: Sho." The spell took the fastest one in the stomach, sending him flying back into one of his fellow attackers. The unaffected man kept coming, his club raised. He swung down, but Ryouta wasn't there, he was above him, having flash stepped there. His foot came down with decisive quickness and hit the man's temple, knocking him unconscious instantly.

"I'm 2nd Squad, which means I'm an assassin of sorts," Ryouta explained to his remaining two opponents. "But you lot...aren't worth me killin' ya. Hado no Ni: Reel." The body of the unconscious man flew to his hand; Ryouta held him as if his weight was nothing. "Catch!" He threw him at the two, who dropped their weapons to catch his body. "Decent of ya to catch 'im. Bakudo no Yojuroku: Cat's Cradle." Thick strands of white silken material shot from his fingertips, wrapping around all three of the men.

"Bad children...should just go to sleep," Ryouta said as the spell took its toll on the three men and forced them to sleep.

OOC: I’ll take any stat points, as you see fit I’m just starting out so I don’t really care which, just take your best guess here. Ayame don’t think you’re going to get to keep my knife…lol…

James watched in amazement as Ayame took down most of the criminals without even drawing his zanpakuto. “Wow he really is good; I can see why he is the vice-captain of the second squad.” James thought. His arm gave a little reminding him of his predicament “Guess I’ll do this the old fashion way.” James thought driving his knee into the man’s abdomen causing him to double over, where upon he slit his throat ending his life as quickly as he could.

James stood there for a moment horrified that he had killed the man out of his own anger “No…please sleep well now; bending down he closed his opponent’s eyes. Standing he saw the other brother running towards him nothing but, the anger for his brother shown through his eyes as James side stepped him and planted the butt of his knife in the man’s back causing him to fall. James was on him in an instant his arm looped around the man’s neck with his knife poised to go straight into the skull.

The memories of what had almost transpired still fresh in his mind as James chose his words carefully “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t kill you now, you are worthless.” He snarled; somewhere at the back of his mind he was begging for some to pull him away before he took another life.

“I hope you rot in hell.” He said as he raised his knife for the killing strike as the man begged for his life. He flung his arm forward at the last possible moment changing the position of the knife so he just punched the back of his head drawing blood and knocking him unconscious. “No…you’re not worth it…”

James stood up sheathing his knife “I can’t live in the past anymore; I’m sorry you got drug into this Ayame.” James bowed low in apology “So can I have my knife back? It feels odd without both of them.” James asked rising. “Why were you really following me out here?”

Ryouta tossed the blade back in a long, lazy arc that brought it handle-first to James. "Exactly as I said- we're a bit understaffed right now...and also, I don't much like patrols. And well, I like to do things that remind me of when I was younger." He grinned wider. "If ya ask me I think ya'd be a good fit for 11th Squad." Ryouta's gaze drifted to the men James had killed. "Yeah, definitely 11th."

Ryouta didn't seem to show any remorse for their deaths; he was merely commenting based on their overall lack of life. "...What else can I do for ya?"

Watcher: +1.5 fighting skill
Ryouta: +.5 kidou